Case studies

Hidden behind the mask

I had a great childhood and a perfect family. My father had a good career that enabled us to live a comfortable life. But then my parents started going through marriage problems. This led to our family splitting up, with my father leaving with my sister and me staying with my mother and two brothers here in the UK. I had no contact with my father and sister for some years. He didn’t even give us any financial help which meant my mother struggled supporting the three of us.

For someone who’s used to getting what I wanted, it took a bit of time for me to get accustomed to the new lifestyle. I was used to getting what I wanted; expensive clothes, toys and good food was the norm for us, but now it came to the point where there were days we would go without.

With my family torn apart and my life seeming helpless, I soon found myself a new pastime. My family was broken and I became depressed. I started spending less time at home and more time with people from the wrong crowd who I called my friends. When I was in their company I would change character. I was always the joker of the pack, but this was just to mask the real me - someone who was very insecure.

When people asked about my dad I used to lie to them or avoid talking about him altogether. Even my closest friends didn’t know about my family. My mother later started attending the UCKG, where she found help. But the positive changes in my mother did not change my mind about the HelpCentre.

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